Thank you for your question.
No, I was not surprised by the choice. The process was conducted in such a way that officials were able to assess the expertise of the various organizations and their proposals over a number of years.
Firstly, the expected benefits of such a contract, as noted earlier, can be direct. For instance, they can include jobs in the manufacturing and final design of the aircraft's sub-components. In Quebec, there are more than 225 SMEs and industry organizations, not to mention all the universities that are closely involved in our consortium. Furthermore, there are indirect benefits for the development of skills and expertise through workforce training programs.
We are strong believers in the transition to sustainable aviation, and thus in reducing the environmental impact of factories, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through new technologies and new electrical systems that can be installed onboard for command and propulsion. The development of suppliers resulting from all this direct work has a strong structuring effect.
With respect to innovation and research and development, this is a golden opportunity to reap industrial and technological benefits for Quebec, and even for all of Canada, because there are a lot of partners outside Quebec. There are members who have a presence everywhere. So it is a structuring project.